VANCOUVER WHITECAPS & MLS NEWS
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
MLS MATCHDAY #4
SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 2019, 2019
BC PLACE, VANCOUVER, BC
TV: TSN 1 RADIO: TSN 1040 ONLINE: TSN DIRECT
Week 4 of 2019 season a landmark weekend for Homegrown Players across MLS – MLS
A batch of internationals were away on national-team duty during a truncated MLS Week 4 schedule, and it helped craft an opportunity that was seized by Homegrown Players across the league.
David Accam played his best game for the Union just days after his father died – Philly.com
During David Accam’s first four seasons in MLS, his father Michael never got to see him play soccer in person. This was to be the year when it finally happened.
Revolution 0, Cincinnati 2: New England still winless in 2019 – The Bent Musket
The New England Revolution are still winless in 2019, as they lost 2-0 to FC Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon.
Sacha Kljestan goal lifts Orlando City SC over New York Red Bulls – Last Word on Soccer
The New York Red Bulls hosted Orlando City SC at Red Bull Arena. Without several starters due to international duty, the team relied on their roster depth.
Familiar Late Fireworks: LAFC 2, Real Salt Lake 1 – Angels on Parade
Los Angeles Football Club returned home from their trip to New York and earned their second 2-1 extra time victory of the season, this time coming in the form of a Walker Zimmerman stunner in the 92nd minute over Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Earthquakes youth show glimmer of future promise – SBI
To sort of steal a line from the late Oakland Raiders’ owner Al Davis, “the greatness of the [Earthquakes] is in its future.”
For Toronto FC, a quiet meeting at an English pub in 2014 helped turn the franchise around – Toronto Sun
It was a meeting at a London pub in 2014 that helped laid the foundation for TFC’s multi-championship season in 2017 and the acquisition of one of the franchise’s greatest players.
BC SOCCER NEWS
PACIFIC FC vs. HFX WANDERERS FC
CANADIAN PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHDAY #1
SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2019, 4:00 PM
WESTHILLS STADIUM, LANGFORD, BC
VISL Results – March 22-24 – BC Soccer Web
As we prepare for the Cup Finals next weekend, there were some details to sort out in the Division 1 standings still.
Celebrini, Hojabrpour reflect on opening weeks of Pacific FC pre-season – Pacific FC
As the inaugural Canadian Premier League (CPL) season inches closer Pacific FC have been hard at work preparing for the season opener vs HFX Wanderers on April 28th. Pacific FC’s Randy Celebrini and Alessandro Hojabrpour commented on what has been a productive few weeks for the Island outfit.
Vikes women take down UBC for Keg Cup title, men unable to complete tournament sweep – UVic
The University of Victoria Vikes women’s soccer defeated the UBC Thunderbirds by a score of 3-1 to capture the annual Keg Spring Cup tournament title. Trinity Kettyls scored the game-winning goal for the Vikes in the 54thminute to push her squad to victory over their long time rivals.
SPARTANS DROP KEG CUP CONSOLATION TO PANDAS – TWU
The Trinity Western women’s soccer team dropped the consolation final of the University of Victoria Keg Cup 1-0 to the University of Alberta Pandas Sunday afternoon in Victoria.
SPARTANS TIE CASCADES IN BRONZE MATCH AT KEG CUP – TWU
The Trinity Western Spartans men’s soccer team used a late goal to tie the Fraser Valley Cascades 1-1 in the bronze medal match of the Keg Cup Sunday afternoon in Victoria, B.C.
Provincial B Keith Millar Cup Draw today at noon – BCSA Facebook
Today, we’ll host the draw for the 2019 Men’s Provincial B Cup. Join us on Facebook live at noon Monday as the countdown to the Keith Millar Cup begins!
Cowichan Valley U18 Silver boys’ team’s historic run ends in semis – Cowichan Valley Citizen
The successful season that saw the Cowichan Valley U18 Silver boys win their Lower Island Soccer Association league and cup titles came to an end on March 10 with a 3-1 loss to the Juan de Fuca Gold team in the U18 Gold District Cup semifinals.
More $$$ for soccer dome – Castanet
The City of West Kelowna is being asked to put up another quarter-of-a-million dollars for its multi-sport dome.
Saviours of the past…BC Soccer history unearthed in Australia – BCSA
You never know what you’ll find at an estate sale. Graham Wright lives in Australia, and recently bought several items in a house clearance auction. Among the treasures, a photo album which featured some footballing images. One had a caption that read “St Saviours”, from British Columbia of all places.
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
CANADA 4 FRENCH GUIANA 1
CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE
SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2019
BC PLACE, VANCOUVER, BC
PHOTOS: Canada 4, French Guiana 1, Concacaf Nation League, March 24, 2019 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie
Canada qualifies for Concacaf Gold Cup and Nations League A with Decisive 4:1 win over French Guiana – CSA
Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team defeated French Guiana 4:1 to earn a spot in the 2019 Gold Cup and a place in Group A of the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League. It marked the fifth consecutive international victory for Canada, the second-longest winning streak in program history.
Herdman: Canada have “a cutting edge to our talent now” as growth continues – MLS
Canada comfortably secured their place at this year’s Gold Cup, and a spot in the top group for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League, with a 4-1 win over French Guiana at BC Place on Sunday afternoon.
This is why CONCACAF Nations League ‘A’ is so important – Canadian Premier League
If the host Qataris get their wish and the World Cup remains at 32 teams in 2022, keeping the ambitious expansion to a 48-team tournament on hold until 2026, then we know Canada’s short-term goal isn’t to be better than the CONCACAF bosses from Mexico. No, Canada’s realistic target is to be better than the rest en route to a World Cup berth.
Unpopular Opinion: Déjà Vu caution, Gold Cup again will be the true test of Canadian Men’s National Team – AFTN
Call me a pessimist, but I can’t help but be cautious in putting my full faith into John Herdman’s reconstruction of the national team. That’s not to say Canada doesn’t have an incredible group of talented professionals in camp this week, with an aspiring amount of group potential. I would never deny that. But the flurry of Twitter posts and articles coming out this past week arguing Canada’s proved they have the quality, that we’ll win the Gold Cup? Worst of all that traumatic phrase filled with what is usually short lived promise: “things will be different”.
HFX Wanderers In Depth: Defenders – AFTN
There was a period in early February when it seemed as if the HFX Wanderers first XI was going to be comprised solely of defenders. Like the lewd plot of a Jose Mourinho-authored Harlequin paperback, every player announcement strengthened the narrative that Wanderers were gearing up to be a defensive outfit with little regard for attack.
USL & LOWER DIVISION NEWS
Gameday Report: March 23, Week 3 – USL
Eastern Conference action saw Saint Louis FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies remain at the top of the standings following a 1-1 draw while Louisville was the only side in the conference to claim a victory, beating Hartford Athletic at Slugger Field.
WATCH: Asprilla scores terrific bicycle kick on USL cameo – Yahoo Sports
Portland Timbers forward Dairon Asprilla has had to spend some time in the USL Championship this season, and the second tier would probably like to see Gio Savarese keep the Colombian in Major League Soccer.
STLFC earns draw with Tampa Bay, stays undefeated after three games – Post-Dispatch
Through three games, St. Louis FC is undefeated and unsatisfied.
Louisville City FC picks up right where it left in 2019 USL home opener – Courier-Journal
In its first game back at Slugger Field this season, Louisville City FC picked right back up where it was a year ago — and the previous four years.
Rangers and Riverhounds strike late in 2-2 draw at Children’s Mercy Park – Sporting KC
The Swope Park Rangers earned their first point of the 2019 USL Championship season on Saturday, scrapping to a 2-2 draw with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC that saw both sides strike twice in a breathless final 20 minutes at Children’s Mercy Park.
Locomotive FC, Rio Grande Valley FC play to a 2-2 draw – KTSM
El Paso Locomotive FC draws against Rio Grande Valley FC in the two clubs’ first meeting of the 2019 USL Championship season.
NWSL & WOMEN’S WORLD SOCCER NEWS
The unfancied four: A first-time finalist awaits in UEFA Champions League – The Equalizer
Since the rebrand and reformatting of the UEFA Women’s Champions League (from the UEFA Women’s Cup) for the 2009-10 season, the showpiece final has routinely pitted the best against the best in Europe. As Lyon and Wolfsburg — the Barcelona and Real Madrid of women’s soccer — are usually the last two standing, the finals have gotten rather predictable. The two have met in two of the past three finals.
DEFENDER TAYLOR SMITH SIGNED BY REIGN FC – Reign FC
Reign FC has signed defender Taylor Smith. Smith, who has 10 appearances for the U.S. Women’s National Team, most recently played for the Newcastle Jets in the Australian W-League.
Women’s football talking points: Lucy Graham’s stunner leaves wasteful Everton in fight against relegation – The Telegraph
Lucy Graham’s curling strike from 30 yards – the hosts’ first shot of the game – was enough to give Bristol City victory over Everton in a game in which Tanya Oxtoby’s side again exhibited their defensive mettle.
Juventus Women 1-0 Fiorentina: Record crowd of 39,000 watch game at Allianz Stadium – BBC Sport
Juventus Women beat Fiorentina 1-0 in their first game at the Allianz Stadium in front of a capacity 39,000 fans – a record for a women’s game in Italy.
Indian women extend SAFF unbeaten run to 23 games to take 5th title – Inside World Football
India retained their SAFF women’s crown by defeating Nepal 3-1 in the final to win the tournament for a fifth consecutive time.
Finding my silver lining by Stephanie McCaffrey – The Equalizer
A silver lining doesn’t always come easily. If you are strong enough to intentionally and consistently pursue a mindset that lies in the positive space of a tough situation, you can bring that silver lining to you. Other times, we are lucky enough to have that come through the joy of other people and experiences, when we are struggling to remain on a positive pursuit within ourselves.
Arsenal’s elite girls thrive after being put on an equal footing with the boys – The Guardian
Club make player quality paramount regardless of gender and top girls respond by more than holding their own with the boys.
The NWSL Is A Restrictor Plate League But It Doesn’t Have to Be – Backline Soccer
In auto racing, there are times when cars are forced to use a restrictor plate over the air intake to limit the power of the engine. It’s often done under the promise of safety. It is too unsafe to let the full power of the engines out at once. To keep a more even keel to things, they restrict some power. The NWSL often feels as though US Soccer, the NWSL front office and to a lesser extent some of the ownership groups are perfectly happy to keep a restrictor plate on the league.
Kim Jungmi ready to step up Women’s World Cup preparation – FIFA
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy is gleaming in the sunshine outside the Ulsan World Cup Stadium, a venue steep in heritage having hosted three men’s FIFA World Cup™ games in 2002.
WORLD SOCCER NEWS
EURO qualifying: Hungary stings Croatia, Israel hangs 4 on Austria – NBC Sports
It wasn’t just Germany and the Netherlands staging a tight and entertaining match in EURO 2020 qualifying on Sunday.
Euro Qualifying Rewind: Spain tops Norway, France rolls, and more – SBI
Spain is aiming to get back in the spotlight of European Football after a disappointing showing in last summer’s World Cup. The hosts kicked off European Qualifying on Saturday and was able to grab their first three points of the campaign in Valencia.
‘That is my mistake’ – Koeman accepts responsibility for Germany loss – SN
Ronald Koeman accepted his decision not to make a late defensive substitution proved costly as Netherlands fell to a 3-2 defeat at home to Germany in Euro 2020 qualifying.
Hazard scores in 100th game as Belgium beats Cyprus – London Free Press
Eden Hazard scored in his 100th international game for Belgium on Sunday, helping his team to a 2-0 win over Cyprus in European Championship qualifying.
Deschamps primes France for Iceland test – Ligue 1
Didier Deschamps has warned his France side they can expect Iceland to give his 2018 FIFA World Cup winners a stiff test in Monday’s UEFA EURO 2020 qualifier.
Scotland atmosphere ‘toxic’ in San Marino – Billy Dodds – BBC Sport
Former Scotland striker Billy Dodds says he was taken aback by the “toxic” atmosphere as Alex McLeish’s side beat San Marino 2-0 in Euro 2020 qualifying.
Italian soccer federation signs deal with Chinese government – Leader-Post
The Italian soccer federation has signed a wide-ranging memorandum with the Chinese government to promote soccer between the two countries.
African Cup lineup confirmed as last 5 teams qualify – London Free Press
South Africa became the last team to qualify for the African Cup of Nations on Sunday, completing the expanded 24-team field for the finals in Egypt in June and July.
Debutants Bermuda, Guyana break new ground – FIFA
Bermuda and Guyana are both celebrating after their securing first-ever Concacaf Gold Cup qualification over the weekend.
Plenty of politics at play in Venezuela-Catalonia friendly – Canada.com
There will be lots of politics to talk about when Venezuela takes on a Catalonia squad in a friendly soccer game in Spain on Monday.